The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-24

rms webster Anniversary-The College Close
for The HolidaYH

Reported for the Democratic Advocated
The Webster Literary Society of Western
MARYLAND College celebrated its seventeenth
anniversary ON Tuesday evening, the 10th
instant. by an Interesting program Of exercises
given in Smith Hail. The weather and walk
| ing was SO extremely bad as TO prevent the
assembling Of SO large an audience as is usual
on these occasions. When the curtain arose
it disclosed groupe Of thirty seven young
gentlemen arranged AROUND their President,
Mr.. |. G. Michael, of Grantsville, Garrett
county, who made the opening address. He
gave lie usual hearty welcome TO the sister
societies, and friends, and alluded to the
prosperous condition of the society. The
next item was to be the recitation of Lowell 5
poem, 1.-THE Rose" by Master C. j. Mott OF
Baltimore, but owing to sickness he was not
present Miss Maud Mills, of Onancock,
Va, and Miss Annie Shriver, Of Westmin-
ster, of the Philomathean and Browning So
cieties, respectively, gave Weber's s'Invita-
ton to the Waltz, = as piano dnett. Mr.. j..
Med. Radford, Of Jersey, Ca, followed with
the anniversary Grafton on The Price OF
True Greatness, and his production was of
exceptional merit, both in thought and in the
expression Of it. After this Mr.. i. Irving
Pollitt, of Salisbury, gave the character-piece,
1.-The Trial of Roaring Ralph and in his
impersonation of the Kentucky lawyer, kept
his listeners in peal of laughter. Whoever
enjoys the touchingly pathetic scene intro
duced in Dickens works would have had a
great pleasure in the recital of "The Death of
Little Jo,r with Mr.. B. w. Woolford, of
Dorchester county, as Woodcot, and Master
G. E. Waesche, Of Mechanicstown, Frederick
county, as Little Jo for it was all portrayed in
a most realistic way. Mr.. Thos. 4. Reese, of
Carroll county, was very successful IN a
humorous selection, "He Wasn't Used to
Hotels" Prof. Rinehart at this point varied
the program with piano solo, JqeUs .Troi-
sieme Meditation" and pleased his audience
as he always does. A reading of 'sThe Polish
Boy" by Mr.. W. Irving Mace, of Dorchester
county, came next, and was followed by Mr.
Fl. G. Watson, of Centreville, in humorous
Grafton on Echoes from Life" The con-
tinuous laughter and applause of the audience
was proof of his success in this line. After
tableau representing the "Rescue of Captain
John Smith, the program was closed with
the very laughable farce entitled "The Great
Elixir" which was certainly carried out to
perfection. The whole entertainment was
one of the most successful the Society has
ever given, and demonstrates clearly that an
entertainment not so dramatic as they have
usually given, could be made quite as attrac-
tive and as much appreciated.
Immediately after this all the Students and
were invited to Calisthenic Hall,
which was beautifully dressed and brilliantly
lighted, and in the centre there stood a mann
moth tree literally loaded with presents.
The value of the presents was in their fun
producing quality, and consisted of all sorts
of toys and oddities of every description, that
could in any way be joke. No single stu
dent but had his share in the division, and
the distribution was royal fun. This was the
treat of the students to the students and
teachers, but now came the treat from the
President. Ice. cream and water ices were
served in abundance, and all realized that
Merry Christmas was surely near at hand.
After 6 o'clock breakfast ON Wednesday
the happy hearted students took the early
rain for their homes, and the festivities
awaiting them there. The College will re-
open January 8, 1888, and with prospect of
an increased number of students.